Fun Things to Do In Raleigh When You’re at #OH2015
September 11, 2015If you are attending the #OH2015 Conference, I'd like to welcome you to my hometown of Cary, North Carolina, in the region of Raleigh, NC. Cary is located in a region of North Carolina referred to as the Research Triangle or simply the Triangle. Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Cary are the main cities that make up the Triangle.
Get to know Cary-Raleigh, North Carolina
Cary, NC: The #OH2015 Conference is being hosted in Cary, North Carolina. Cary is a suburban town located off I40 between Raleigh and Durham. Cary is adjacent to Raleigh Durham Airport, the Research Triangle Park, and (William B) Umstead State Park. Research Triangle Park is a 7,000 acre business park and home to 190 scientific and technology companies. Less than .5 miles from the conference and adjacent to Cary is Umstead Park. The park encompasses 5,439 acres and can be accessed from the Harrison Road entrance directly across the highway from the conference location.
Visiting the Triangle during October is a choice time of year. A mid-October visit to North Carolina is very close to the peak season for the fall colors. The week of the OH conference will likely be a few weeks early for the fall colors in the Triangle area however with average high temperatures of 72 and overnight lows of 50 you picked a great time to visit.
Raleigh, NC: Central North Carolina includes many destinations in one. Raleigh is home to the North Carolina state capital, North Carolina State University, and several museums. The best way to get a good introduction to the downtown area is on a Segway. Triangle Glides offers multiple narrated Segway tours of downtown Raleigh. The tour opens with a training session on the use of the Segway. In my experience, the learning curve is very quick and the tour is enjoyed by all ages. Reservations are usually required, tour specifics including pricing and shop hours are available at 919-828-1988 or online at http://www.triangleglides.com/.
Interesting Museums
While in the downtown area of Raleigh a visit to the NC Museum of History warrants a visit. The NC Museum of History focuses on the collection and preservation of the history and heritage of North Carolina. Admission to the museum is free with visitor specifics available at http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/Home.aspx. Within a very short walk of the Museum of History are the following points of interest: NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC State Capitol, and Marbles Kids Museum.
A short distance from downtown and less than 5 miles from the OH Conference is the NC Museum of Art. In addition to the galleries and museum store, NC Museum of Art has 164 acres of fields, woodlands, and creeks. The area around the museum is a great place to get in a hike. There is no admission to the park area and parking is plentiful. The museum is located at: 2100 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC – hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission details can be found at http://ncartmuseum.org.
Annual North Carolina State Fair
The annual NC State Fair runs from October 15 – 25, 2015 on the 344 acre fair grounds. The fairgrounds are minutes from the OH Conference location. The NC fair is the largest 11-day event in North Carolina, attracting more than 800,000 attendees. The fair host diverse musical acts, numerous food vendors, game booths, carnival rides, commercial, and agricultural exhibits. The NC State Fair is consistently ranked in the top 25 fairs in North America. Adult admission is $10 and operating hours vary by day. Specific location information, event calendars, and operating hours are available at http://ncstatefair.org.
Pottery
If your visit includes the time for a 1.5 hour drive from Raleigh, a visit to Seagrove should be on your “to do” list. The dirt in central North Carolina contains properties that make is ideal for stoneware. The proximity to free materials gave birth to the country’s largest community of potters. A visit to Seagrove consists of driving between shops viewing working galleries and studios. A good place to starts when visiting Seagrove is the NC Pottery Center at http://www.ncpotterycenter.org/.
Note the artist's name of the style of pottery that most interests you. This list will provide a good starting point for mapping out your gallery visits. There are enough galleries and shops that they cannot all be visited in a single day! Most galleries have free maps with shop information. Note that most shops are closed on Monday. Multiple websites provide excellent information: http://discoverseagrove.com/, http://www.ncpotterycenter.org/ , and http://seagrovepotters.com. If your time allows, I cannot recommend a visit to Seagrove enough!
Other To-Do's
Sarah P. Duke Gardens: Durham is a short drive west of the OH Conference location. Durham is the home of Duke University, the Durham Bulls, and the Duke Lemur Center. Sarah P. Duke Gardens consist of 55 acres of landscaped and wooded areas on the Duke University campus. Founded in 1934, Duke Gardens is now considered one of the top 10 public gardens in the United States. Entrance to the gardens is free; however there is a small parking fee. Details about the Sarah P. Duke gardens can be found on their website at http://gardens.duke.edu/ or by calling 919-684-3698.
Duke Chapel: While in the area of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens you should not miss visiting the Duke Chapel. Duke Chapel is on the campus of Duke University. The university and chapel architecture is said to be modeled after Oxford University and is built in the collegiate gothic style. The chapel stands 210 feet tall and is one of the tallest buildings in Durham. Visits to the inside of the chapel are limited since May 2015 when the chapel was closed for restoration. Reopening is targeted for spring 2016. Details are available at https://chapel.duke.edu/ or at 919-684-2572.
Duke Lemur Center: The center is the world’s largest and most diverse collection of lemurs – Earth’s most threatened group of mammals – outside of Madagascar. Tours are offered by appointment. Appointments can be arranged by calling 919-401-7240. From my own experience, I can share that advanced reservations are required. Center details are available at http://lemur.duke.edu/.
Chapel Hill: Southwest of Raleigh (another point in The Triangle) is Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill boasts multiple awards and accolades including number 1 in best small cities for Education in America, Number 10 in America’s best towns for July 4, and Number 36 in Best Places to Live. Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the famous Tarheels Basketball teams. The university includes medical, law, and business schools and a hospital. If, like me, you like basketball, the Dean Dome includes a museum celebrating UNC Men’s Basketball.
Morehead Planetarium: While on the campus, a good indoor activity is to visit the Morehead Planetarium. The planetarium is located at the center of the UNC campus and provides planetarium shows at multiple times during the day. A calendar of shows, driving directions, and visiting information can be accessed at http://moreheadplanetarium.org/.
North Carolina consistently ranks as a top place to live in the United States. Situated in the middle of a state with Atlantic Ocean beaches, the Smokey Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail – North Carolina is a wonderful place to visit....I hope you have a great time!
Photo credit: Wendy cc
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen Womack had DS surgery in 2014 and lost 100 pounds. She is thankful each and every day for the surgery, her medical team, and the opportunities afforded her after weight loss. Karen enjoys spending time with her family in Texas and North Carolina. Karen is a certified Project Manager and Business Analyst. She enjoys working on her mountain home, crafts, and hiking. |
